Tiffany Studios Favrile glass sells well at Skinner’s 20th Century Design sale, December 14, 2017

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Philip Chasen

My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. Now that the weather is colder, I have gone back to publishing twice weekly, as often as possible.

Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s hoping that 2018 will be a great year, especially if our illustrious politicians don’t screw it up.

Skinner’s Auction, Boston, MA, held its 20th Century Design sale on December 14, 2017. Included in the sale was a lovely collection of Tiffany Favrile glass from the estate of Nan Edwards. The results were excellent.

Fabulous Tiffany red Favrile exhibition vase, Skinner lot #72

The top lot of the group was #72, a killer red decorated Favrile vase marked “Exhibition”, meaning it was made to exhibit at a fair. Exhibition vases are usually top quality and quite rare. It went on the block with an estimate of $4,000-6,000 and soared to $33,210, including buyer’s premium — not surprising considering its quality and rarity.

Tiffany Favrile black decorated millifiori vase, Skinner lot #76

Lot #76 was another fine Tiffany Favrile example from the collection of Nan Edwards. The quality and rarity of this black decorated millifiori vase made up for its small, 4¾” size. It sold for over 10 times its high estimate of $900, realizing $12,300, including buyer’s premium.

Early Gallé Crystallerie vase, Skinner lot #179A

For the most part, the French glass offerings were quite weak, except for lot #179A. It was a superb example of 19th century Gallé Crystallerie glass, with a grasshopper and flowers. At 9″ tall, it was offered with an unrealistically low estimate of $400- $600. It sold for a very fair price of $10,455.

Fake Gallé jar, Skinner lot #178

Embarrassingly Skinner sold lot 178 as authentic Gallé glass, when in fact it was an obvious reproduction. I guess they were fooled because it came from the collection of Nan Edwards. It means that Nan Edwards was fooled first and then Skinners. I suggest the buyer return it immediately.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

No more shows until February 2, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Airport show. I’ve been beating the bushes finding new treasures and have come up with some beauties. I just listed over 10 new items on my website and will list another 10 or more within the first week of January. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look.

I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Oops! Appraiser makes a big mistake on Antiques Roadshow

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Philip Chasen

My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday.

vase-antiques-roadshow During the taping of an episode of Antiques Roadshow, expert Stephen Fletcher of Skinner Auction, Boston, MA, gave the good news to a guest of the show. He told the guest his vase dated from approximately 1900 and was worth $30,000 – $50,000. The only problem was that he was wrong. A high school student had made it in 1973 as an art project. Ouch!! For the AOL video of the story, click here. Then click here for more of the story from the Washington Post.

Denver, July 15-17, 2016

No shows until July, when we’ll be in Denver for the Denver World Wide Antique Show, July 15-17, 2016. In the meantime, we’re very much in business, so call or email me with your wants or items for sale. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Martin Brothers double bird sells for $57,000 at Skinner’s European Furniture & Decorative Arts, July 13, 2013

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Martin Brothers double bird, Skinner lot #896

Skinner, Inc. held their European Furniture & Decorative Arts sale on July 12-13, 2013. Included in the huge 1377-lot sale was a Martin Brothers double bird. It was fairly small, 6″ tall, and kind of hidden in this huge sale. I had hopes of sneaking up on it and buying it reasonably, but that was not going to happen. The major players had found out about it, so there was no hope of getting a bargain. The final sale price almost quadrupled the high pre-sale estimate of $15,000, selling for $57,000, including the buyer’s premium. It wasn’t a surprise because the market in the best quality Martin Brothers items has been strong for some time and continues to be so.

Very rare 1914 Louis Wain cat, The Lucky Master Cat

Next weekend, August 16-18, we’ll be at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, to exhibit at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show. We’re bringing some really high-powered new items, all fresh to the market, including four outstanding Tiffany Favrile vases straight out of a collector’s home. Please take the time to visit us at the show to see for yourself.

If you can’t attend the Chicago show, make sure you make plans to come to the really great Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair, August 22-25, 2013, the following week. It’s a show worth traveling to from anywhere in the world. Buyers fly in from all over the country, Canada, Europe and even Japan. How about two free tickets? Click here to get your two free tickets to the show.

I’m in the process of having my website totally redesigned, with many changes and improvements. It’s coming in the next few weeks. Can’t wait to show you and get your reaction!

Wonderful Daum Nancy scenic blownout vase, in rare purple variation, just in

Click here to view French cameo glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Gorgeous Daum Nancy Fall scenic vase, just in

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

Some good results at Skinner’s 20th Century Design auction, December 15, 2012

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Philip Chasen

First things first. Happy New Year! May the coming year be a good one, with the new Congress having more sense than the last one. (What are the odds?)

Skinner Boston was the last of the auction houses to hold a December 20th Century sale. Its 20th Century Design auction was held on December 15, 2012, with a few good results. The sale wasn’t terribly exciting, with only a few lots that could be called interesting or selling for $10,000 or more.

Tiffany Studios 17-inch diameter Poppy table lamp, Skinner lot #143

The top lot of the sale was a Tiffany Studios 17″ diameter Poppy table lamp, with decent color, but not in A-1 condition. Estimated fairly at $30,000 – $40,000, it realized $51,000, including buyer’s premium.

Fine Tiffany Favrile floriform vase sold for $9,000, Skinner lot #148

This fine Tiffany Favrile floriform vase sold for $9,000 as Skinner lot #148

Two nice Tiffany Favrile floriform vases easily exceeded their estimates of $800 – $1,200 each, with one selling for $7,200 and the other for $9,000, including buyer’s premiums.

Alphonse Mucha Les Saisons screen, Skinner lot #110

The second highest price paid went to a Les Saisons (The Seasons) screen decorated by the celebrated Austrian Art Nouveau artist, Alphonse Mucha. It went on the auction block with an estimate of $20,000 – $25,000. The final price of $39,000 handily exceeded the high estimate.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Skinner’s 20th Century Design results.

This weekend we will be exhibiting at our first show of 2013, at the Birchwood Manor, in Whippany, NJ, Saturday and Sunday, January 5-6. We will be bringing all of our new and exciting purchases. We’ll have them all on display. Then on to the all-important Miami shows at the end of the month. If you can’t see us in New Jersey, don’t miss us in Miami.

I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. I need some time to edit the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and etchings by Louis Icart. Here’s the link. Philip Chasen Antiques.

Tiffany Studios lamps and glass sell well at Sotheby’s New York Important 20th Century Design sale, June 13, 2012

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Philip Chasen

June is Decorative Arts month at the nation’s auction houses. Every major and many not-so-major auction house holds one in June. I’ll cover many of them in the next few weeks, each Monday and Thursday. Today, it’s Sotheby’s turn. They held their New York Important 20th Century Design sale on June 13, 2012.

Very pretty Tiffany Studios Pony (miniature) Wisteria lamp, Sotheby's lot #14

Tiffany Studios table lamps and glass were the sale’s top sellers, with only one lot, a 1960s aluminum chair by Gerrit Rietveld, selling for more. 100% of the Tiffany lamps sold, with many exceeding their high estimates.

Beautiful Tiffany Studios Favrile glass morning glory vase, Sotheby's lot #6

The top Tiffany Studios lot of the sale was #14, a Pony Wisteria lamp, which sold for $254,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $120,000 – $180,000. The top Tiffany Studios Favrile glass lot of the sale was #6, a beautiful paperweight vase with morning glory decoration. It sold for approximately double its low estimate, to reach $98,500. Total sales for the auction were $4,486,125, approximately half their December figures, as the December sales are usually larger and more important.

For the complete results of the Sotheby’s sale, click on the following link. Sotheby’s 20th Century results.

Still to come up are James D. Julia’s Important Lamp and Glass auction, this Wednesday and Thursday, as well as Skinner’s 20th Century Design sale this Saturday. After that we can expect a calmer July.

Our next show won’t be until July, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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A killer Gallé fuchsia blownout vase, just in

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Martinware does well at Skinner’s European Furniture & Decorative Arts sale, July 9, 2011

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Philip Chasen

Lots of interesting things have been happening in the antiques world recently. Since I have a bit more time to write about them during the spring and summer, I will be posting new blog entries twice a week, instead of once — Mondays and Thursdays for the next few weeks. So make sure you come back often and tell your friends about my blog!

Skinner’s held their European Furniture & Decorative Arts sale on Saturday, July 9, 2011. In among the diverse offerings were two lots by the Martin Bros. of London & Southall, England. Works by the Martin Brothers have been popular and highly sought after for decades. What’s interesting is that the earlier items from the 1870s and 1880s are fairly undesirable in today’s market. Why, you may ask? Because they’re not “grotesque” — a big compliment in the world of Martinware. Early stoneware items were, for lack of a better word, ordinary. They mostly depicted realistic looking flowers and birds. At some point in the mid to late 1880s, the brothers started producing wares that were strange and zany with fantastic creatures. They also created bird tobacco jars with wonderfully eccentric faces. These are the types of grotesque items that today’s collectors eagerly seek.

Martin Bros. ewer with fish decoration, Skinner's lot #64

Skinner’s lot #64 was a Martin Bros. ewer from 1884, with fish decoration. The decoration shows the direction that they would begin to take a few years later. In this example, the fish are realistically depicted. As a result, I assumed the lot would not do well, but it did. Realistically estimated to sell for $2,500 – $3,500, it reached $4,148, including buyer’s premium.

A later Martin Bros. vase with 'grotesque' fish decoration, not in the Skinner's auction, but illustrated for comparison

Rare miniature Martin Bros. bird jar -- Skinner's lot #65

The next lot, #65, was a rare miniature bird tobacco jar, with removable head, only 3½” tall. It more than quadrupled it’s pre-sale estimate of $1,200 – $1,800, to sell for $9,480, including buyer’s premium — impressive for such a tiny example, but not surprising.

For the complete results of the auction, click on the following link. Skinner’s Decorative Arts results.

Rare Louis Icart etching Miss America

Check out my new acquisitions. I just listed a very rare Louis Icart etching, entitled “Miss America”, plus a gorgeous Daum Nancy pink floral vase; a rare Tiffany Studios desk lamp in the Spanish pattern; several fine Daum vases; a Daum lamp; several Galle vases; and several more Tiffany Favrile vases. Soon I’ll be listing a wonderful Tiffany Studios 7-light lily lamp with beautiful shades and a fine patina. Also coming soon will be several wonderful European ceramic items by Clement Massier, Zsolnay and Amphora. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Martin Brothers stoneware on fire at Skinner’s sale of the Richard Wright Collection

Posted on October 29, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Richard Wright had quite an eye for the best and that included very fine examples of Martin Brothers stoneware. The auction results of that good eye showed at the Skinner auction of his collection on October 24, 2009.

The Martin Brothers were well represented in his collection. There were vases, tobacco humidors, face jugs and a spoon warmer, that ranged from the early “normal” items to the very desirable and collectible “grotesque” items. The standard early ceramics don’t usually command much interest because collectors have zeroed in on the grotesque, but that didn’t stop a determined crowd and phone bidders. A large stoneware vase with realistic lily flowers carried a low pre-sale estimate of $4-600 and sold for $4,444, including the buyer’s premium.

A wonderful Martin Brothers spoon warmer, Skinner lot #100

Other early standard vases also did well, but the real fireworks started when the grotesque items came up for sale. The first important item was lot #100, a large spoon warmer in the form of a fish. It soared to an incredible $53,325, against a pre-sale estimate of $3-5,000.

A fine Martin Brother bird, Skinner lot #151

That set the stage for the other important Martin Brothers items, two tobacco humidors in the form of birds. Martin Brothers birds are the best known and most sought after of all Martin items and these two did not disappoint. The first was lot #151, a brooding bird, 10½” tall. Collectors pay the most for the best personality and this bird was good. The pre-sale estimate was $12-18,000. It brought an astounding $82,950, including buyer’s premium.

Martin Brothers bird, Skinner lot #152

The next lot was larger and in my opinion, more interesting, but the buying public disagreed. It still sold very well, but not quite as well as #151. The final price was $59,250, against a pre-sale estimate of $12-18,000.

The fireworks continued with very strong results for vases, face jugs, and an unusual Eskimo jug. Only the most determined of collectors went home with any of the Martin Brothers items — it was quite a showing.

Please send me your suggestions or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer your question in a future blog entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Tiffany Studios lamps soar at Skinner’s sale of the Richard Wright Collection

Posted on October 28, 2009 by Philip Chasen

On October 24, 2009, Skinner, Inc. sold part II of the Richard Wright Collection. Overall, the sale was a barnburner, but today I’ll only discuss the Tiffany Studios lamps and glass. Yesterday, I reviewed a few of the results and tomorrow, I’ll discuss the Martin Brother ceramics and Zsolnay pottery results.

Tiffany Elaborate Peony table lamp, Skinner lot #305

Richard didn’t collect too many Tiffany lamps, but the ones he did were special. The most important lamp of his collection was a 22″ elaborate Peony. It was estimated at $300,000 – $500,000, one of the more aggressive estimates in the sale. The lamp sold within the estimate, for $435,000, including the buyer’s premium. The photos in the catalog and on their website do not do the lamp justice, as it was more colorful and beautiful in person.

A Tiffany 20 inch diameter Dragonfly table lamp, Skinner lot #471

A 20″ Dragonfly lamp on a mock Turtleback base was estimated for $25-35,000 and quadrupled the high estimate for a final price of $148,125, including the buyer’s premium. Lot #291 was a rare Daffodil Jonquil table lamp. It sold to a dealer for $112,575, against a pre-sale estimate of $30-50,000. A Tiffany 10-light lily did not fare quite as well, as it was sold with one reproduction shade and one cracked shade. It was estimated for $7-9,000 and sold for $22,515.

A rare Tiffany Favrile orange vase, Skinner lot #583

A small, but rare and interesting Tiffany Favrile vase, deep orange with a zipper decoration, was estimated for a silly low price of $4-600. It sold for $10,665, in the range one would expect for a vase of this quality.

It was a good day for Tiffany Studios items at auction, but that was to be expected. The items were high quality, fresh-to-the-market, estimated low, and sold into a market where superior Tiffany items have been strong for quite some time.